Local 12-year-old is low-key about rare birthdate

It’s not every day someone can have a once-in-a-lifetime experience but today is different.Especially for Fernando Vasquez, who turns 12 today — on 12-12-12.

Rosalie Currier

It’s not every day someone can have a once-in-a-lifetime experience but today is different.Especially for Fernando Vasquez, who turns 12 today — on 12-12-12. Fernando, a sixth-grader at Sturgis Middle School, is not a self-promoter so even though a neighbor, Peggy Silva, pointed out to him last year this special lineup of numbers for his birthday, Fernando didn’t say much.In fact, he told only one friend about the four 12s.That doesn’t surprise Cindy Henningsen, a second-grade treacher at Wall Elementary School. “He’s not going to brag about himself,” Henningsen said.Fernando still considers Henningsen his favorite teacher, even though second grade was four years ago. Apparently he’s still the same unassuming boy at 12 as he was at age 8.Ask any of his middle school teachers about Fernando, and you’ll get words like thoughtful, kind, hardworking, “a delight,” curious, caring and responsible.“He’s the ‘whole package’ kind of a kid — a role model,” Henningsen said.Henningsen said Fernando is typically more concerned about others than himself, especially his younger brothers, Angel and Antino.Henningsen has taught all three Vazquez brothers. Being the oldest, Fernando would attend conferences to check on their progress — and maybe to see his favorite teacher.“He’s so proud of his brothers,” Henningsen said.If Fernando’s father, Camerino Vasquez, could give him whatever he wanted for this special birthday, Fernando’s choice would be to go snowboarding. It’s something he hasn’t tried yet, but it looks like fun, he said.Fernando’s favorite activities include playing soccer and the trombone. Those he has tried and both are part of his dreams for the future.“Sometimes I thing about being a professional trombone player,” Fernando said.That, and pulling together his own soccer team. As for this birthday, Fernando thinks it’s cool and knows it’s the last time a triple-digit birthdate for 80 years, on 1-1-2101.